Skin tensioning mechanism for shaving devices



Nov. 26, 1957 R. V. MILLER SKIN TENS'IONING MECHANISM FOR SHAVING DEVICES Filed June 2'7, 1950 HHIIIIHIHIHII 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 26, 1957 R. v. MILLER 2,814,104

SKIN TENSIQNING MECHANISM FOR SHAVING DEVICES Filed June 27, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 IO 36 2 as x [4-1 IO FIG. 3

IN V EN TOR.

1957 R. v. MILLER 2,814,104

SKIN TENSIONING MECHANISM FOR SHAVING DEVICES Filed June 27. 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 311 3'4 33 35 f F{Yr 39 3| ss I4 FIG. 37: T

4s V 49 5O n I $7 7 47/5 57 48 49 6 59 4s Maw IN V EN TOR.

United States atent a i n.

r 2,814,104 SKIN TENSIONING MECHANISM FOR SHAVING DEVICES Raymond V. Miller, Princeton, N. J.

Application June 27, 1950, Serial No. 170,557

17 Claims. (Cl. 30-34) This invention relates to skin tensioning mechanism to be attached to or made an integral part of shaving devices. It applies particularly to the type of skin tensioning mechanism in which the skin-contacting element is movable independently with respect to the cutter head of the dry shaver or with respect to the blade edge of a safety razor, back and forth in a direction coinciding approximately with a perpendicular to the plane tangent to the face of the user at a point where the shaver head or the blade is in shaving contact with the face.

This direction of movement, in the case of a dry shaver, is back and forth with respect to the skin-contacting portion of the cutter head, in a direction approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body of a standard dry shaver. In the case of a safety razor using a blade, this direction of movement is back and forth with respect to the blade edge in a direction approximately perpendicular to the line of the blade edge, and approximately perpendicular to the axis of the razor handle.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending applications Serial No. 71,121, filed January 15, 1949, now Patent No. 2,726,442 granted December 13, 1955 and Serial No. 77,815 filed February 23, 1949, now Patent No. 2,726,443, granted December'l3, 1955, in which back and forth relative movement of the skincontacting element with respect to the cutting or shearing surface of the shaver itself, and independently thereof, in a direction as above noted, is also a feature.

An object of the invention is to provide simplified and at the same time improved means that will operate more effectively with standard razors, and that will give quicker, closer and safer shaves with both dry shavers and safety blade razors than has been possible up to now.

Another object is to provide, in combination, a finger.

lever which brings the skin-contacting element toward the skin of the user from its inoperative position without interrupting the shaving operation, while the user is shaving, and which causes the element to contact, with selectively variable pressure, the skin being shaved; together with a different and improved kind of action by the element rubbing against the skin as the assembly is moved across the face by the hand of the user.

A further object is to provide an embodiment of the skin tensioner that will fit within the body of a standard dry shaver, that will be of simpler design and havefewer parts than previous embodiments applying to dry shavers.

For application to adry shaver of the type driven by an electric motor, the skin tensioning mechanism can be either incorporated integrally within the shaver body, or it can be in the form of an attachment to be clamped to the outside of the shaver body. For application to a blade,

type razor, the embodiment to suit that type is clamped around the razor handle at the end farthest from the blade.

The improved results secured by this new construction are derived from a novel arrangement of structural parts as described below.- The tendency ofthe skin-contacting element to dig into the skin during the shaving operation when heavy pressure urges the element toward the skin, is

eliminated. In the embodiment that is incorporated integrally with the working parts of the shaver within the shaver body, this improvement is obtained by using twin sets of pivoted arms operating in spaced relation to each other, as shown. This permits arranging the relative positions of the pivots so that the movement of the device across the face during the shaving operation tends to push the skin-contacting element away from the skin rather than towards it. This tendency can be counteracted at will by the user, in each embodiment, by pressing upon the finger lever. This gives a unique action that is very important in successful skin tensioning in advance of a moving shaver head engaging the skin during shaving.

Alternate means for applying the above mentioned combination to a blade type razor to accomplish these and other objects, are described in this specification and shown on the drawings herewith.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 to 5 show an embodiment adapted to be integrally included 1 lines show the relative positions of these parts when pres sure from'a finger of the user has depressed the finger lever toward the shaver body; dash lines show the relative positions of these parts when no pressure is being applied by the finger of the user.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, with part of the outer shell of the shaver body broken away, to show the mechanism inside the body.

Fig. 4 is a partial side elevation, with portions of the outer shell broken away. This figure omits certain parts in the foreground (which are shown in Fig. 3) in order to more clearly show the lever 19 and its supporting pivot.,

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, with the comeback springs and certain other parts omitted for clearness.

Figures 6 to 10, inclusive, show an embodiment of this invention adapted to be attached to the handle of a standard safety razor using a blade.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, with part of the outer encircling band broken away in order to show the Working parts inside.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation, with part of the outer en Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, show both the pressure spring and the comeback spring.

Figs. 9 and 10 show an improvement in the skin-contacting element that may be used with the embodiment adapted to a safety razor of the blade type, wherein a sponge is made part of the skin-contacting element in order to dampen the dried-on soapy lather just before the blade edge approaches.

Fig. 10 is a section along line 10--10 of Fig. 9.

In Figs. 1 to 5 the numeral 1 represents a skin contacting element, of the shape shown, and suitably formed of plastic, leather, rubber or other convenient material, as by having grooves as shown, or roughening, so as to cause a pull on the skin as the element is moved over the skin under pressure. Element 1 is secured to a U-shaped yoke 2. Yoke 2 is supported on the movable upper portions of two bent wire frames, 3 and 4. The lower portions of these frames are journalled in holes in lugs S and 6, respectively, projecting from a portion 7 of the lower shell of the shaver body. Yoke 2 is connected to the bent wire frames 3' and 4 thru holes in the yoke, thru which the upper portions of the wire frames pass. Washers 8 secured as shown to the bent wide frames after the frames have been passed thru the holes in the yoke, hold the yoke in position so it will not shift laterally on its supports. It will be noted that a drop of solder could be substituted for each washer.

It will be observed that this arrangement permits yoke 2 and element 1 to move back and forth with respect to shaver head 9 of a standard dry shaver 10, in a direction approximately parallel with the axis of the shaver body. The line of the skin against which the cutter head bears during the shaving operation, is diagrammatically indicated in the drawings by the line XX.

Return spring 11 (see Fig. 6), formed and placed as shown normally holds the movable upper portion of wire frame 4 in the position farthest from the shaver head 9 at all times except when opposing pressure received from lever 19 overcomes the action of spring 11. A pull-Wire 12 shaped as shown having its opposite ends bent into hooks 13 and 14 can be bent as may be desired to clear the adjacent parts of the conventional dry shaver 10. Hook '13 encircles the side of bent Wire frame 4 at a point near the center of the side portion of that frame. Hook 14 encircles the side frame of another bent wire frame which will be described later. The numeral 15 indicates two enlargements of the side portion of wire frame 4, one

above and one below hook 13, forthe purpose of keeping hook 13 in place near the center of the side portion of frame 4. These enlargements can be in the form of a drop of solder above and another drop below hook 13, or a washer secured to'the wire frame or any other suitable meansto hold hook 13 in its proper position.

.A notch 16 formed midway between the hooked ends 13 and 14 of pull-wire 12 holds one end of spring 17 in position midway between the two hooks 13 and 14. This enables pull-wire 12 to act as an equalizer bar in transmitting pressure from spring 17 to hooks 13 and 14.

The end of spring 17 farthest from the pull bar is hooked over a notch 18 in lever 19. Lever 19 is securely fastened to vertical rod 20 which is journalled in holes 21 and 22 in the top and bottom, respectively, of oscillating cover 23. Washer 24 is secured to the top of shaft 20 outside of the cover 23. Washer 25 is secured to the bottom of shaft 20 outside of the cover 23. This arrangement insures that lever 19 will not shift its position vertically with respect to cover 23.

It will be observed that with the structure described thus far, the skin-contacting element will be held away from any contact with the skin of the user during the shaving operation unless and until some pressure is applied to the lever 19 by a finger of the user.

It will be noted further, that when lever 19 has been pressed as far as it will go toward the body of the shaver, spring 17 pulls the notched central portion 16 of the pullwire 12 forward (that is, toward the cutter head of the shaver). With cover 23 in its upper position, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the hook 14 on one end of pull-wire 12 is prevented from moving forward (by mechanism which will presently be described). Therefore hook 13, which is free to move, will be pulled in a forward direction by spring 17 (toward the cutter head of the shaver) approximately twice as far as the notch 16 has been pulled forward (because hook 14 acts as the stationary fulcrum), provided the shaver head is held away from the face of the user, and out of contact with the skin. This is the condition illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

In normal use, however, with the cutter head pressed against the skin of the user, element 1 will project little, if any, beyond line XX.

The result of pressing lever 19 as far as possible toward the shaver body will, in normal operation, merely increase the relative pressure of element 19 against the skin, as compared with the pressure of the cutter head 9 against the skin. The element will, however, project a certain distance beyond that line XX (to the left in the drawings) whenever the facial contours of the user are such as to produce that result. The pressure urging the skin-contacting element toward the area of skin being shaved is of course always independent of the pressure of the cutter head against the skin. Therefore, whenever the cutter head 9 presses on the skin over a protruding part of a cheek bone or a jaw bone while the element 1 presses on an area of skin not backed by such a protruding bone, the element 1 will project beyond the line X--X.

Cover 23 is pivotally secured to that end of the body of a standard dry shaver farthest from the cutter head, as shown. A frame 141 encircling the shaver body at the front of cover 23 connectsthe upper and lower parts of cover 23 together and forms the front end of the cover. Pins 26 secured to the body of the standard dry shaver pass thru holes in the oscillating cover. Washers 27 secured to pins 26 outside of the cover 23 hold cover 23 in its correct position and prevent it from shifting laterally on its supporting pins. Cover 23 has its inner side (top and bottom) shaped to fit the outside of the standard shaver body. The inside height of the cover, however, (see Fig. 3) is made approximately three-sixteenths of an inch greater at the front end than the overall outside height of the shaver body at that point. This allows the front end of cover 23 to move up and down, with respect to the body of the standard shaver, approximately threesixteenths of an inch, in a manner similar to that described in my previous application No. 77,815.

Having now described the structure which supports and actuates skin-contacting element 1, I will continue by describing exactly similar construction that supports a skincontacting element 28 situated on the lower side of cutter head 9 (Fig. 3), whereas skin contacting element 1 is situated on the upper side of the cutter head in that figure. Element 28 is secured to a U-shaped lower yoke 29 similar to yoke 2 but inverted with respect to yoke 2. Yoke 29 is supported on the lower portions of two bentwire frames 30 and 31. The upper portions of these frames are journalled in holes in lugs 32 and 33 projecting from a portion 34 of the upper shell of the shaver body. Yoke 29 is connected to the bent wire frames 30 and 31 thru holes in the yoke, thru which the lower portions of the frames pass. Washers 35 secured to the bent wire frames after the frames have been passed thru the holes in the yoke, hold the yoke in position so it will not shift laterally on its supports. It will be noted that a drop of solder could be substituted for each washer.

It will be observed that this arrangement permits yoke 29 and element 28 to move back and forth with respect to shaver head 9 of a standard dry shaver 10, in a direction approximately parallel with the axis of the shaver bod R eturn spring 36 formed and placed as shown, holds the movable lower portion of wire frame 31 in the position farthest from the shaver head 9 at all times except when opposing pressure received from lever 19 overcomes the action of spring 36.

Hook 14 on pull-wire 12 encircles the side of bent-wire frame 31 at a point near the center of the side portion of that frame. The numeral 37 indicates two enlargements of the side portion of Wire frame 31, one above and one below hook 14, for the purpose of keeping hook 14 in place near the center of the side portion of frame 31. These enlargements can be in the form of a drop of solder, or a washer secured to the wire frame, as previously noted.

It will be observed at this point that the distance of hook 14 from the hole in lug 33 is made identical with the distance of-hook 13 from the hole in lug 6. This occur.

provideh-for any given position of lever 19, the same pressure to urge either the upper skin contacting element 1 or the lower skin contacting element 28 toward the head of the shaver, in a direction approximately parallel with the horizontal axis of the shaver.

Up to'this point we have described similar structures for supporting and actuating an upper skin contacting element 1 and a lower element 28. The lever 19, the spring 17, and the pull-wire l2 perform the same function for both the upper and the lower elements.

It is to be observed that the upper element 1 and the lower element 28 never operate together or contact the skin of the user at the same time. Each element is the skin contacting part of two separate structures each complete within itself.

Either structure could be used without the other, as is done in an embodiment soon to be described applying to a safety razor using a steel blade.

However, since it is convenient and customary to operate dry shavers both forward and backward over the skin of the user, 1 have included the two separate structures in my embodiment applying to the dry shaver.

My prior application disclosed means for holding out of engagement with the face of the user the skin contacting element that is to the rear of the shaver head as it moves across the face. Those applications included means for reversing the action when the direction of movement of the shaver across the face was changed.

The present application uses means, operating on the same principle, to select either the upper or lower skincontacting element for engaging the skin of the user. In

the present structure, however, both the upper element 1' and the lower element 28 can be prevented from engaging the skin of the user while the shaver is in operation. This is accomplished by not placing any pressure on lever 19 from a finger of user.

Extension piece 38 projects from one side of oscillating cover 23 near the top of the cover, as shown (see Figs. 5 and 6), in such manner as to engage upper lug 39 which is attached to wire frame 31 at the end where frame 31 is pivotally connected to the top of the shaver body.

Similarly, extension piece 40 projects from the side of oscillating cover 23 near the bottom of the cover, as shown, in such manner as to engage lower lug 41 which is attached to wire frame 4 at the end where frame 4 is pivotally connected to the bottom of the shaver body.

It will be observed from Fig. 3 that when oscillating cover 23 is in the upper position, upper extension piece 38 holds lug 39 on wire frame 31 in its uppermost position. This counter-clockwise rotative action causes the movable lower portion of wire frame 31 to be held in its extreme rear position (farthest from the shaver head). This is the mechanism referred to above, that prevented hook 14 from moving forward. At the same time, lower extension piece 40 is also in its upper position. This permits lug 41 to move correspondingly in a counterclockwise direction which, in turn, permits the upper portion of wire frame 4 to move toward the shaver head. Yoke 2 and element 1, supported on the upper portion of wire frame 4, are thus also permitted to move toward the shaver head. It will be noted that wire frame 3 acts merely as an idler frame which follows the forward (toward the shaver head) and backward movements of wire frame 4. The purpose of idler frame 3 is to form a pair with frame 4 to provide means for supporting yoke 2 at a considerable distance inboard (toward the rear) from the shaver head and still maintain the position and movement of the yoke in a direction approximately parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shaver.

It is to be noted that although the upper position of oscillating cover 23 permits forward movement (toward the shaver head) of upper element 1, only pressure of a finger upon lever 19 will cause such movement to actually In the absence of pressure upon lever 19, thecomeback spring 11 will prevent element 1 from moving forward out of its extreme rear position.

It will be observed that, in a similar manner, when oscillating cover 23 ismoved toits lower position on its pivots 26, lower extension piece 40 holds lug 41 on wire frame 4 in its lowest position. This rotative action in a clockwise direction causes the movable upper portion of wire frame 4 to be held in its extreme rear position (farthest from the shaver head). At the same time, upper extension piece 38 is also in its lower position. This permits lug 39 tomfove correspondingly in a clockwise direction, which in turf! Permits the lower portion of wire frame 31 to move toward the shaver head. Yoke 29 and element 28, supported on the lower portion of wire frame 31, are thus also permitted to move toward the shaver head. It will be noted that wire frame. 30 acts merely as an idler frame which follows the forward and backward movements of wire frame 31.. The purpose of idler frame 30 is to, form a pair with frame 31 to permit supporting yoke, 29 at a considerable distance inboard (toward the rear from the shaver head) and still maintain the position and movement of the yoke in a direction approximately parallel with the horizontal axis of the shaver. V 7

As before, it is to be noted that although the. lower position of oscillating cover 23 permits. forward movement (toward the shaver head) of lower element 28, only pressure of a finger upon lever 19 will cause such movement. the case of the upper element, the return spring 36 will prevent element 28 from moving forward out of its extreme rear position.

It will be observed that when the frontend (nearest to the cutter head.) of oscillating cover 23 is in its uppermost position with respect to the shaver body, the relative positions of extension piece 40, lug 41 and wire frame 4 are such that the distance from line X-X to the upper end of frame 4 (see Fig. 3) will always be greater than the distance from line XX to the holes in lugs 6 which form the journals connecting the lower end of frame 4 to the body of the shaver. This feature of this embodiment of this invention produces the very important result that element 1 will always resist any tendency of itsgrooved or roughened surface to dig into or imbed itself into the skin of the user. The very upward movement on the users skin, of the shaver incorporating the structure described will, instead, push element 1 away from the skm of the user and toward the rear of the shaver (the end farthest from the cutter head). Pressure-on lever 19 from a finger of the user, communicated to element 1 thru spring 17 and associated parts, is the counteracting force provided. This balanced action produces an inherently smooth and non-gripping engagement with the skin not found in prior embodiments applicable to dry shavers.

It will be further observed that when the front end (nearest to the cutter head) of oscillating cover 23 is in its lowest position with respect to the shaver body, the relative positions of extension piece 38, lug 39 and wire frame 31 are such that, in like manner, the distance from line X-X to the lower end of frame 31 (see Fig. 3) will always be greater than the distance from line X-X,

to the holes in lugs 33 which form the journals connecting: the upper end of frame 31 to the body of the shaver.

As in the case of element 1 this basic feature of this invention produces the novel and important result that element'28 also will always resist any tendency of its grooved or roughened surface to dig into or imbed itself into the skin of the user. The very downward movement of the users skin, of the shaver incorporating the structure described will, instead, push element 28 away from the skin of the user and toward the rear of the shaver. As before, pressure on lever 19 from a finger of the user, communicated to element 28,thru spring 17 and associated parts, is the counteracting'force provided. ,This balanced action In the absence of pressure upon lever 19, as in.

7 again produces the inherently smooth and non gripping engagement with the skin that forms a feature of this invention.

Figs. 4 and 2 show a locking mechanism that automatically holds the front end of oscillating cover 23 in the mid-position of its movement with respect to the shaver body, when no pressure is applied to lever 19. This is a most useful feature when it is desired to operate the shaver momentarily (as under the nose) without the skin stretching feature. A post 42 is firmly secured to the frame of the shaver body, in a manner similar to that shown, being so bent as to avoid interference with other operating parts. On the side of this post nearest the head of the shaver is a square-edged groove 43 of suitable size to just contain the end of lever 19 nearest spring 17. This groove is positioned so as to engage the end of lever 19 when the forward end of oscillating cover 23 is at the mid-point of its up and down movement with respect to the shaver body.

It will be observed that when no pressure is being applied to lever 19 and cover 23 is moved upward or downward, even slightly, it will immediately become locked, in its mid-position, to the body of the shaver, because pressure from both return springs (11 and 36) will move pull-wire 12 to its extreme rear position, thereby also pulling spring 17 and the inboard end of lever 19 to their extreme rear positions, where the end of lever 19 will be forced into the square-edged groove 43.

'It will be noted further that the slightest pressure upon lever 19 will immediately cause the end of that lever to emerge from groove 43, thereby unlocking cover 23 from the shaver body.

As long as there is any pressure on the lever the cover 23 cannot lock.

In operating the embodiment of the invention just described in which the skin stretching mechanism is contained within the shaver body, the user grasps the oscillat ng cover 23 holding it exactly as he would hold the body of a standard shaver. The assembly is moved over the skin in the same manner as any standard dry shaver. Until lever 19 is pressed by a finger of the user, the operation is identical in every way with that of a standard shaver. Effective pulling on the skin, or tensioning, immediately n advance of the cutter head, by engaging the skin-contacting element against the skin, is provided in all positions and under all conditions, the instant any pres sure is applied to finger lever 19. Lever 19 may be held in any posit on desired, and the element contacting the skin will automatically alternate from the upper element 1 to the lower element 28 as the assembly is moved back and forth across the face by the hand of the user during the shaving operation. During any stroke of the assembly in any direction the pressure on lever 19 can of course be increased or decreased, or the lever may be released entirely. In every case, the response of the skin-engaging element to such control is immediate. When using an up and down stroke in shaving at the base of the nose the lever is released completely, thereby retracting both element 1 and element 28 away from the skin.

The only general difference in operation of this embodiment as compared with a standard dry shaver is that the strokes with this embodiment can be much longer, as with a straight razor, or with a safety razor with a blade. The usual facial contortions and feeble attempts to stretch the skin with the fingers during the shaving operation will be found unnecessary, because the mechanism does the work effectively under the control of the finger of the user.

These features providing, under effective instant control by the user, a well stretched skin immediately in advance of the cutter head, produce three important results in dry shaver operation much better than has been physically possible with devices known up to now. These three results, produced at one and the same time, are (a) closer shaving, (b) quicker shaving and (c) greater freedom from skin cuts and nicks, than is possible with dry shavers by any known method not utilizing this invention.

These features make a single cutter head really effective on a dry shaver, as it should be. They make unnecessary the use of a multiplicity of cutter heads, as is the practice on the latest existing dry shavers, which practice in reality is an admission that the individual cutter heads are inefficient under exist-ing methods of using them. This invention gets away from the paradox of improving a poor operational unit by employing a multiplicity of such units. In so doing, this invention also provides a shaver head that can get into the narrow sunken areas or valleys between the bones that are found on the face of every man. This cannot be accomplished with a multiple-headed sh aver because the combined width across the several heads simply cannot enter the narrow valleys between bones, and cannot therefore effectively engage the skin situated in such valleys. This action in itself promotes closer shaving with this invention than with devices existing up to this time.

In Figs. 8 to 13, showing an embodiment of this invention adapted to be clamped to the handle of a standard safety razor using a blade, the numeral 44 represents a skin contacting element of the shape shown, and suitably formed, of plastic or other material, as by having grooves as shown, or roughening, so as to cause a pull on the skin of the user as the element is moved over the skin under pressure. The grooves forming the skin-contacting friction surface on element 44 are made with somewhat sharper edges to effectively pull the skin despite the usual coating of shaving cream or lather on the skin when a blade razor is used. Also cross-grooves 142 at right angles to the longitudinal grooves may be used to enable some of the lather or cream to pass through them as the element is pulled across the skin of the user.

Element 44 is fastened, as by screws or cement, to a T-shaped extension piece 77 forming the upper end of an oscillating arm 45 shaped and positioned as shown. Arm 45 has a shaft 46 secured near its lower end as shown. The two opposite ends of this shaft are journalled in holes 47 and 48 in frame 49 as shown. Washers 50 and 51 are secured to the ends of shaft 46 where the shaft projects thru the holes in frame 49, thereby acting as thrust washers to hold oscillating arm 45 in its proper position with respect to the sides of the frame and to prevent lateral shifting of shaft 46.

Frame 49 contains a portion 52 that is shaped to fit the handle of a standard razor of the safety type, as shown. A clamping strip 53 has a threaded nut 54 secured to it. Bolt 55 has its stem threaded to engage nut 54. The bolt is mounted on the clamping strip as shown. The head of bolt 55 is shaped to be conveniently held between the thumb and forefinger of the users hand for ready tightening or loosening of the clamp. Variously shaped packing pieces suitably formed of appropriate compressible material such as leather or rubber may be inserted between the metal clamping strip 53 and the handle of the razor, to form a tight connection for securing the frame 49 to the lower end of the handle 56 of any one of the several standard makes of safety razors.

By this arrangement, element 44 is enabled to move back and forth in a direction approximately at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the razor handle. It will be observed that the longitudinal axis (horizontal axis) of element 44 is also parallel to the blade edge at all times.

A light return spring 57 formed and installed as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 holds the free upper end of oscillating arm 45 (containing the skin-contacting element 44) close to the handle 56 of the razor by pressing in a clockwise direction (in the figures) toward the razor handle from the outboard side of arm 45. This is the situation at all times except when stronger counteracting pressure is applied counterclockwise (rFig. :6) on the inboard side of arm 45 from the hooked end ofpressure spring 58 to overcome the clockwise holding tendency of the comeback spring 57. When the latter action occurs, the free upper end of oscillating arm 45 and the attached skincontacting element 44 are moved away from the razor handle. They then take various positions along their line of travel, depending on the amount of pressure exerted from pressure spring 58, the contour of the users face being traversed in the shaving stroke, and on the relative compressibility of the users flesh at the point of contact with element 44. It will be observed that when element 44 is passing over a check bone, for example, a given amount of pressure from spring 58 will move element .44 toward the cheek bone a very small distance. After the element 44 has passed the cheek bone in the downward shaving stroke, however, it presses against the soft and yielding underlying fiesh of the user. This flesh is situated between the cheek bone and the jaw bone. In this case the given pressure from spring 58 moves element 44 a'considerable distance toward the users face, thereby'preserving the uniformity of the skin-tensioning action.

In this invention the pressure that may be exerted by pressure spring 58 may vary from zero to the maximum, according to the amount of pressure applied to lever 59 from a finger of the user. (The second finger of the right hand is the most convenient with the embodiment shown, or the thumb of the left hand if the razor is held in the left hand). The finger pressure is applied, in a direction toward the razor handle, on the lever 59 shaped as shown and having its finger-contacting surface roughened to provide an easy and firm grip during operation.

Lever 59 islpiv'oted on pin 60 (see Figs. 9 and 12). The lever contains a hole 61, located as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8; the hole is slightly larger than the lower end of pressure spring 58. A'featureof this invention is the manner of passing the lower end of pressure spring 58 thru hole 61, with a loose fit'in the hole, as shown, so that when finger pressure against the outboard'side of lever 59 causes the hole 61 to move upward about pivot 60 (clockwise in Fig. 7), the lower end of spring 58 will be forced upward. This causes a tightening of spring 58 about shaft 46 and causes the upper end of spring 58 to pull arm 45 in a counter-clockwise direction (in Fig. 6) about shaft 46. Two drops of solder 144 are placed on the lower end of spring 58 as shown, one on each side of lever 59 where the spring goes thru the 'hole in the lever. These drops of solder are placed far enough apart to give ample clearance to lever 59 in all positions; they keep the spring in place in the hole 61, and they also permit a loose fit of lever 59 on its pin 60, which assures a very smooth and simple operating action in the device.

The amount of tension in spring 58 may varybetween wide limits so long as it is strong enough to force element 44 away from razor handle 56 against the pressure of comeback spring 57; Spring 58 may even be so stifi that it is practically a rigid wire shape formed as shown, in which caseit will still function perfectly, acting as a pivoted lever; 'in this casethe finger of the user will supply thein-and-out motion-to make the element 44 follow the bony contours of the face of the user as the razor is moved over theface.

A further feature of this invention that'may be added to the embodiment adapted for use with a safety razor of shaving with a blade edge. each whisker must be wet when it is shaved. This feature avoids having to do.

10 this opeiation by a finger of the users hand as it has been generally done up to now.

The operation of this embodiment applying to a safety razor with a blade is apparent from the above description and the drawings.

The device is secured to the razor handle by first passing the lower end of the razor handle into the circular portion 52 of clamping strip 53. Frame 49 is slid upward on the razor handle until skin contacting element 44 comes just below the lower side of the part of the razor that forms the fixed guard for the edge of the razor blade. Element 44 thus operates in close proximity to the fixed guard, on the standard razor, but there is sufficient clearance to avoid interference. Frame 49 is then rotated around the razor handle until element 44 becomes parallel with the blade edge. The head of bolt 55 is then turned tight by thumb and forefinger, thus securing the' device to the razor.

In the figures showing how this embodiment is attached to a standard safety razor using a blade, the numeral 143 indicates the head of such a razor, which holds the blade edge 146 in position close to the safety guard 145 forming part of every standard razor.

' It will be noted that this arrangement of parts gives a most convenient grip for the hand of the user upon the assembly. In Fig. 8, users thumb is placed on near side of razor handle just above top edge of frame 49. Users first finger grips far side of razor handle a short distance below element 44. Users second finger falls on lever 59. Users third finger falls on far side of frame 49. Users little finger falls on far side of lower end of razor handle 56. Thus the user has a firm natural grip on the razor handle with the thumb on one side, and the first, third and fourth fingers well spread apart on the opposite side of the handle, thus leaving the second finger free and in a comfortable position to press upon lever 59 when and as desired.

In shaving, the blade will first be placed against the face in the usual manner, with no pressure being applied to lever 59 by the second finger. Just as the shaving stroke is about to be started pressure as desired is put upon lever 59 by the Second finger of the users hand. This causes element 44 to engage the skin; the element then pulls the skin and smooths it out, immediately ahead of the advancing blade. A feature of this embodiment is its ability to provide heavy and variable pressure against the face by the skin-contacting element while at the same time permitting the user to employ as light a pressure of the blade against the skin as he may desire.

These features providing, under effective instantaneous control by theuser, a well stretched skin immediately in advance of the moving bladeedge, produce the same three important results for the blade razor as were described above for the dry shaver, and they provide these results much more effectively than has been possible by other methods up to now. These three results, produced at one and the same time, are (a) closer shaving; (b) quicker shaving; and (c) greater freedom from skin cuts and nicks, than is possible with a blade razor by any known method notutilizing this invention.

It is desiredto point out that a skin conditioning device such as a' massaging tool can be substituted for the dry shaver mentioned above and shown on the drawings, without departing from the spirit of this invention. Such a device could have-a smooth'round cap placed over the head of a' conventional shaver. This cap would then become the skin-contacting 'edge of the conditioning above; sucha 'rollercould be supported on a handle which would take the place of the shaver'body described above. Such a skin-conditioning device could be used to apply cold cream or to remove same. The rolling skin-contacting edge would form a steady fulcrum for controlling the delicate engagement of the skin-contacting element with the users skin. Only such pressure can be applied as is positively called for by a finger of the user pressing on the lever. The construction inherent to the device as described prevents the element from ever digging into the skin; the resulting action is a constant tndency to produce a light and smooth contact.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the in-v vention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details of construction described herein, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiments of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a shaving device having a body provided with beard cutting members movable in a stroke plane, having a support secured to said body, a skin tensioning element having skin-engaging portions, means movably mounting said element on said body for movement in a direction ap roximately perpendicular to said stroke plane, and spaced from and in proximity to said beard cutting members, said movement of said skin-engaging portions extending between a first extended position distant from said stroke plane on the side of said plane opposite to the location of said body of the shaving device and a second extracted position distant from said stroke plane on the side of said plane opposite to said first extended position, a spring connected between said support and said skinengaging portions for normally urging said skin-engaging portions of said skin-tensioning element into said second extracted position, finger operated means mounted on said support which when pressed by a finger of the user normally urge said skin engaging portions of said skintensioning element into said first extended position together with means mounted on said support causing said skin-engaging portions to be moved to said second extracted position against the urging of said finger operated means whenever the movement of the shaving device over the skin of the user by the hand of the user during the shaving operation is in a direction causing said skin-engaging portions to follow to the rear of said beard cutting members.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which there are two skin-tensioning elements, one on each side of said beard cutting members.

3. In a shaving device having a body for holding by the hand of the user provided with a beard cutting member movable in a stroke plane, a skin-tensioning element having a skin engaging portion movably mounted for movement with respect to said body in a direction approximately perpendicular to said stroke plane, spring means urging said skin-engaging portion into contact with the flesh of the user when the device is traversed .across the face of the user during the shaving operation, said skinengaging portion being spaced from and in proximity to said beard cutting member, said movement of said skinengaging portion extending between a first position distant from said stroke plane on the side of said plane opposite to the location of said body of the shaving .device and a second extracted position distant from said stroke plane on the same side of said plane where said body is located, a U-shaped frame having one end pivotally supported on said device and the other end pivotally connected to said skin-tensioning element, the said two pivotal connections at the opposite ends of the said U-frame being positioned in a plane not parallel with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shaver body but making an acute angle with said perpendicular plane at their line of intersection when the skin-engaging portion is in said first extended position, said arrangement of said pivotal connections causing the said skin-engaging portion to be urged in a direction toward said second extracted position against the pressure from said spring means whenever pressure is applied against the side of said skin-engaging portion in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body and toward said axis.

4. In a shaving device having a body provided with beard cutting means movable in a stroke plane over the surface of the skin bearing the hairs to be cut, a support secured to said device by connecting members pivotally joining said support to the device, with said support including a curved skin tensioner spaced adjacent to said beard cutting means, and resilient means for moving said skin-tensioner perpendicular to said stroke plane unaffected by the position of the beard-cutting means, to a position substantially distant from and beyond the stroke plane, and in return direction after said tensioner has been moved by the skin approximately perpendicular to said stroke in the opposite direction, said skin tensioner being movable from the extreme etxended position beyond the stroke plane to the extreme extracted position in the opposite direction by pressure from the flesh on the face of the user acting against said resilient means without it being necessary for the user to operate or to change the position of any part of said device or any part of his hand holding said body of the device, said skin tensioner being also freely movable in return direction from the extreme extracted position in said opposite direction to said extreme extended position beyond the stroke plane without it being necessary for the user to operate or to change the position of any part of said device or any part of his hand holding said body of said device, thereby providing the delicately balanced action so vital during the operation of a skin tensioner in connection with shaving the face of the user.

5. In a shaving device having a beard cutting edge adapted to be moved in a stroke plane over the surface of the skin bearing the hairs to be out, having a support secured to said devi e. with said support including a curved skin ten ioner spaced adjacent to the beard cutting edge, and resilient means for moving said skin tensioner approximately perpendicularly to said stroke plane, unaffected by the position of the beard cutting edge, and permitting movement in return direction after said tensioner has been moved by the skin approximately perpendicular to said stroke in the opposite direction, whereby when the shaving device has been applied to the skin for the cutting of the hairs, said skin tensioner tensions the skin adjacent to the beard cutting edge by being resiliently urged against the skin in advance of the cutting action of the hair, in a position beyond the stroke plane, said pressure on the skin being unaffected by the pressure of the cutting edge on the skin, said support including U-shaped frames, a base frame for pivotally supporting the lower ends of the U-shaped frames in longitudinal spaced relationship to said base, spaced approximately parallel members each pivotally connected to the upper ends of said spaced U- frames. said skin tensioner being connected to said parallel members at the front thereof. said resilient means including spring means ur ing said support and the skin tensioner towards and beyond the stroke plane for engagement with the skin, said movement from the extreme extended position beyond the stroke plane to the extreme extracted position in the opposite direction and return being provided by the spring means and by the return pressure from the skin of the user without it being necessary for the user to operate or change the position of any part of the device or of his hand holding said device, thereby providing the delicately balanced action between the flesh of the user and the spring means, which delicate action is so vital to the successful operation of a skin tensioner in connection with shaving the face of the user.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein the connecting members pivotally joining said support to the device include a U-shaped frame.

nnit 7. In a shaving device having a cutting edge adapted to be moved in a stroke plane over the surface of the skin bearing the hairs to be out, having a support secured to said device by means including a U-shaped frame having one end pivotally supported on said device and the other end pivotally connected to said support, with said support including a curved skin tensioner adjacent to said cutting edge, and resilient means for moving said skin tensioner approximately perpendicularly to said stroke, substantially distant from and beyond the stroke plane, unaffected by the position of the cutting edge, and permitting movement in return direction after said tensioner has been moved by the skin approximately perpendicularly to said stroke in the opposite'direction, said resilient means including spring means urging said support and the skin tensioner towards and beyond the stroke plane for engagement with the skin, said pivotal connections and said U-shaped frame being arranged with respect to said stroke plane so that side pressure on the skin tensioner parallel to the stroke plane resulting from friction against the skin of the user during a shaving stroke made by the hand of the user, causes a lessening of the pressure with which said tensioner is urged toward said skin approximately perpendicular to said stroke plane, thereby providing the delicately balanced action so vital during the operation of a skin tensioner in connection with shaving the face of the user.

8. In a shaving device having a body provided with a beard cutting means movable in a stroke plane, a skin tcnsioning element having a skin-engaging portion movably mounted for free movement with respect to said body in a direction approximately perpendicular to said stroke plane, and spaced from and in proximity to said beard cutting member, said movement of said skin-engaging portion extending between a first position where the skin engaging portion will engage the skin of the user of said shaving device before said stroke plane meets the skin of the user as said shaving device is pressed towards the skin of the user for the shaving operation, said first ex tended position being distanct from said stroke plane on the side of said plane opposite to the location of said body of the shaving device with respect to said stroke plane, and a second extracted position distant from said stroke plane on the same side of said plane where said body is located, spring means urging said skin-engaging portion of the skin-tensioning element into said first extended position, means converting a portion of thepressure generated against said skin-engaging portion in a direction approximately parallel to said stroke plane during the shaving stroke by the traversing of the skin-engaging portion over and against the bony projections encountered on the face of the user by the hand of the user, into a force urging said skin-engaging portion toward said second extracted position, whereby said converting means automatically cause said skin-engaging portion to clear itself during each shaving stroke from any tendency to jam or grab the flesh when approaching a bony projection of the face, thereby causing said skin-engaging portion to accurately follow the irregular contours on the face of the user and to press uniformly on the flesh at all points in each shaving stroke.

9. The structure of claim combined with inverted U-shaped frames, at second similar base frame for pivotally supporting the ends of said inverted U-shaped frames in longitudinal spaced relationship to said base, spaced approximately parallel second members each pivotally connected to the lower ends of said spaced inverted U-shaped frames, a second skin tensioner fastened to said second parallel members at the front thereof, and resilient means urging said second skin tensioner towards and beyond the stroke plane for engagement with the skin, whereby the delicately balanced action between the flesh of the user and the spring means is provided at both skin tensioners.

10. The structure of claim 9 combined with a shell pivoted to the shaverframe, an upper abutment slip ported by said shell, a lug attached to a leg of one of the inverted U-frames, near the upper pivot of that leg in the base frame so as to engage said abutment when said shell is moved upward to hold said lower skin-tensioner in a position away from the skin of the user; a lower abutment supported by said shell, and a lug attached to a leg of one of the U-shaped frames near the lower pivot of that leg in the base frame so as to engage said lower abutment when said shell is moved downward to hold said upper skin tensioner in a position away from the skin of the user.

11. In a shaving device having a cutting edge adapted to be moved in a stroke plane over the surface of the skin bearing the hairs to be cut, having a support independent of and secured to said device by means including a U-shaped frame having one end pivotally supported on said device and the other end pivotally connected to said support, with said support including a curved skin ten-sioner in advance of said cutting edge in the direction of its shaving stroke, and spaced from and in proximity to the cutting edge, and resilient means for moving said skin tensioner in a direction approximately perpendicular to said stroke, distant from and beyond the stroke plane unafiected by the position of the cutting edge, and in return direction after said tensioner has been moved by the skin in a direction approximately perpendicular to said stroke in the opposite direction, said pressure on the skin being unafifected by the pressure of the cutting edge on the skin, said resilient means including spring means moving said support and the skin tensioner towards and beyond said stroke plane for engagement with the skin against the resultant action of said spring means, whereby a delicate pressure of the skin tensioner on the skin is obtained.

12. The structure of claim 14 wherein the locations of the said pivotal connections connecting said ends of said U-shaped frames'to said base frame and to said parallel members, respectively, are spaced with respect to the stroke plane and to the direction of the shaving stroke so as to cause the skin tensioner to move in a direction away from the skin of the user whenever said tensioner encounters a facial bump during the shaving strokes made by the hand of the user.

13. In a shaving device having a beard cutting means adapted to be moved in a stroke plane over the surface of the skin bearing the hairs to be cut, a support secured to said device, with said support including a curved skin ensioner in advance of said beard cutting means in the direction of its shaving stroke, and spaced from and in proximity to the beard cutting means, resilient means for moving said skin tensioner in a direction approximately perpendicular to said stroke, substantially distant and beyond the stroke plane, unaffected by the position of the beard cutting means, and in return direction after said tensioner has been moved by the skin in a direction approximately perpendicular to said stroke in the opposite direction, whereby when the shaving device has been applied to the skin for the cutting of the hairs, said skin tensioner tensions the skin in advance of the beard cutting means by being resiliently urged against the skin in advance of the cutting action of the hair, in a position beyond the stroke plane, said pressure on the skin being unaffected by the pressure of the beard cutting means on the skin, said resilient means including the combination of a pressure resisting spring for said support, a return spring for said support urging said support to its initial position, and finger pressed means moving said support through the action of said pressure resisting spring with the skin tensioner moving towards and beyond said stroke plane for engagement with the skin against the resultant action of both springs, whereby a delicate pressure of the skin tensioner on the skin is obtained.

14. In a shaving device having a body provided with beard cutting means movable in a stroke plane over the surface of the skin bearing the hairs to be cut, a support secured to said device, with said support including a curved skin tensioner in advance of said beard cutting means in the direction of its shaving stroke, and spaced from and in proximity to the beard cutting means,'resilient means for moving said skin tensioner in a direction approximately perpendicular to said stroke plane substantially distant from and beyond the stroke plane, unaffected by the position of the beard cutting means, and in return direction after said tensioner has been moved by the skin in a direction approximately perpendicular to said stroke in the opposite direction, said support including U-shaped frames, a base frame for pivotally supporting the lower ends of said U-shaped frames in longitudinal spaced relationship to said base, spaced approximately parallel members each pivotally connected 'to the upper ends of said spaced U-shaped frames, said skin tensioner being connected to said parallel members at the front thereof, said resilient means including a return spring between said base frame and a vertical leg of one of said U-shaped frames, normally holding said parallel members in a rear position whereby the skinengaging surface of said skin tensioner is held distant from said stroke plane on the same sideof said plane where said body is situated with respect to said plane, and finger operated means including a lever connected to said support for moving the skin-engaging surface of said skin tensioner to a position distant from said stroke plane on the side of said plane opposite to the location of said body with respect to that plane.

15. The structure of claim 14, combined with inverted U-shaped frames, a second base frame for pivotally supporting the ends of said inverted U-shaped frames in longitudinal spaced relationship to said base, spaced approximately parallel second members each pivotally connected to the lower ends of said spaced inverted U-shaped frames, a second skin tensioner fastened to said second parallel members at the front thereofQa second return spring between said base frame and a vertical leg of one of said inverted U-shaped frames, normally holding said second parallel members in a rear position wherein the skin engaging surfaces of said skin tensioners are held distant from said stroke plane on the same side of said plane where said body is situated with respect to said plane, said finger operated means connected to said support alternately moving the skin-engaging surfaces of said first and said second skin-tensioners to a position .distant from said stroke plane on the side of said plane opposite to the location of said body with respect to that plane. 4

' 16 The structure of claim 15, combined with a shell pivoted to the shaver frame, a support attached to said shell for mounting said finger lever, an upper abutment supported by sa'idshell, a lug attached to a leg of one of the inverted U-frames, near the upper pivot of that leg in the base frame so as to engage said abutment when said shell is move d upward; a lower abutment supported by sa'iid shell, and a lug attached to a leg of one of the U-shaped frames near the lower pivot of that leg in the base frame so as to engage said lower abutment when said shell is moved downward, whereby when the shell is moved upward on its pivot said inverted U-shaped frames with their pivotally connected parallel members and lower second skin tensioner are held in a rear position corresponding to a position of the skin tensioner when the unrestrained action of the comeback spring holds the skin tensioner farthest back from the beard cutting means, and when the shell is moved downward on its pivot said U-shaped frames with their pivotally connected parallel members and upper skin tensioner are held in a similar rear position.

17. The structure of claim 15 combined with a locking piece containing a locking slot arranged to receive a lug attached to said finger 'lever when said shell is in the middle position in its .vertical travel, and means securing said locking piece to the base frame, whereby when said finger lever receives no pressure from a finger of the user, said lug is forced back into said slot by the action of the come-back springs bearing backward against said lug, thereby locking said lug and its attached lever supported on said shell, and consequently also locking said shell, against any upward or downward movement in relation to the base frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

